Shroff brothers embark on new journeys after Amarchand split

Veröffentlicht am 12. Mai 2015

Only a few days after the official split of India’s largest law firm Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co, the brothers behind this dissolution separately launched their own firms.

It’s official: the 655-lawyer firm Amarchand & Mangaldas was split on May, 9, 2015, only two years before its hundredth anniversary. This separation is the result of a successful mediation after months of bitter disputes between managing partners Shroff brothers, after their mother passed away and left unequal firm assets between them last year.

Elder brother Shardul Shroff took over the firm’s old offices in New Delhi, Gurgaon, Ahmedabad and Kolkata and set up Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co that commenced business from May 11, while younger brother Cyril turned the existing Mumbai practice (including offices in Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad) into his new firm, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas.

Contrary to some industry observers’ previous speculations, two brothers will also open offices in each other's territories and slug it out for clients in overlapping markets: Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co intends to open one office in Bangalore and three in Mumbai, whereas Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas announced its plan to enter the Delhi market.

Although the full impact of this event remains to be observed, the industry has already felt the stir. As the two new firms try to enhance their practice in key cities, they are setting off a battle for talent, leading to an increment of remuneration in the industry and stimulating other law firms to take different strategies to attract or keep top lawyers.

J. Y.